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Porphyry was a major
contributor to the spread of Neoplatonism, particularly within the Roman
Empire. In 263, he moved to Rome and became a close friend and follower
of Plotinus.
He is best known for organizing and editing the lectures and writings
of Plotinus, producing the collection of texts we know as The Enneads
[DOC], and for writing The Life of Plotinus, a work that provides many
clues to interpretting Plotinus' thought. In addition, Porphyry also made
his own philosophical contributions: 1) he developed the idea that the
One exists prior to and independently of Being or Intellect and 2) established
the identity of Intellect and Thought with its objects. Porphyry argued
that everything that did not seem to be the One was in fact an appearance
of the One resulting from our inability to think the One as it truly is.
Porphyry wrote many philosophical works, including Against The Christians,
a critical work attacking Christianity, Introduction to the Categories,
a valued commentary on Aristotle's Categories, and Aids to the Study of
the Intelligibles, a basic summary of Neoplatonism.
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